anxiousgirl's braces story.

[anxiousgirl]

Hi there everyone!

I would rather not share my real name, but feel free to call me by my user-name.

I am a 17 year old girl from Australia, and just got braces for the first time.
I am in my 3rd day of "being braced". (Got upper and lower damon q braces on 21/02/2011.)

I got braces because I am sick of my crooked teeth. I also have an overbite from thumb-sucking when i was little.
I had impressions, photos and xrays for braces when i was 13 but then something happened and my anxiety started and that was that!
So yes, I have pretty bad anxiety and have avoided the general dentist for many years let alone an orthodontist.
I don't like anything other than food in my mouth, when I had to have quite a few fillings in 2009, i was put under general anesthetic.

But anyway, i overcome my fears and got braces.
Getting the actual braces on was not painful apart from a bit of pressure when he was closing the damon q brackets.
The glue that they use to put the brackets on, they put lumps of that on 1 on of my molars on each side on the top to stop me biting down fully and knocking the bottom brackets off and they cured that glue with the light the blue light.

I HATE THOSE MOLAR BUILD UP THINGS. I CAN NOT CHEW WITH THEM! NOT EVEN CHEW SLIGHTLY OR SOFTLY! IT IS DRIVING ME NUTS!
and its only day 3 All i have been able to eat is chocolate yogos, crushed weetbix with hot water and milk, soup, cheese slices (if i cut them tiny and swallow them whole.) and drink.

Sorry, i know im complaining. But i am going crazy not being able to eat.
I am addicted to sugar. and I havent had chocolate for like 48 hours, thats like a record for me.

The pain... Day 1 no pain.. started to feel abit of pressure on my teeth at night.
Day 2 started to hurt quite abit. Needed my neurofen.
Day 3. Well it is 11.30 and I have had neurofen and im in pain, but its subsiding.

I am very happy with my ortho. I did not shop around. But i did not go to the same one i saw when i was 13.
My braces are costing my parents roughly $7000 including damon q brackets and the first retainers at the end.
However not happy with one of his assistants, one of the brackets popped off on day 1 when i was lying down, and i only ate melted icecream that day. She was the one who glued it on and cured it. But i guess these things happen.

Honestly, im not feeling so great about this whole braces thing. Ive wanted them for 5 or more years but now they are annoying me so much and upsetting me and my mouth. Im feeling quite sick because I cant chew/eat much and have no energy because of that.

My treatment time is estimated at 24 months. However he said hopefully it might be a few months less.
I will try and get some pictures up when i have the energy to go and scan them Im a bit of a wreck at the moment with these braces

Any help with foods or anything would be fantastic. and advice with these mountains of things on my molars stopping me from chewing! He said i will have them for about A MONTH!!


Thanks for reading my story.
Hope to update this reguarly.

-anxiousgirl

[braceface:)]

Hi anxiousgirl!

I was glad to read your post. I JUST got braced today and will stay that way for 24-30 months!! I've been having the same feelings. Life without sweets is going to be difficult. Good luck with the pain...try eating cooked chicken...its soft but still solid, so you feel full

[anxiousgirl]

[quote="braceface:)"]Hi anxiousgirl!

I was glad to read your post. I JUST got braced today and will stay that way for 24-30 months!! I've been having the same feelings. Life without sweets is going to be difficult. Good luck with the pain...try eating cooked chicken...its soft but still solid, so you feel full [/quote]

Thanks for replying
I havent had ANY lollies or chocolate since my braces were put on.
I attempted to eat a hot jam donut today by ripping it up and swallowing it, it half worked i guess.

The pain is pretty much gone. I only get pain when i floss now.

It is now day 6 for me with braces, and everything is great. I had to pop in to the ortho office the other day because I thought the top and bottom wires popped out of the last brackets both on the right hand side, but apparently not which is good because i was worried. While i was there i mentioned that the molar buildup on the right side felt much larger than the one on the left and he ground/shaved/filed/whatevered it down to a comfortable point. I still need the buildups, but i think i will be able to start chewing soon.

I am seeing small changes with my teeth already, it is very exciting!!

[Plumcore]

Hey you! Thanks for posting in my our journal thing-ama-jig.

Grats on taking the plunge, you'll be happy you did! And 17 i still not all bad, especially if you think about it, they will be out by the time you hit college.

I am glad to see the pain is gone. And don't worry about the buildups and chewing. You will get used to them, it just takes a while getting used to. I know it got very frustrating for me especially at uni, because we had no lunch brakes, and the option of a sammich was out. So i had to go with itty bitty pieces of cheese and ham and a bit of bread and try to chew them...:p Not fun.

But now, if the bread is not too hard, i can bite a bit, more like, bite and tear, but it works. So it really does get easier. Same with flossing. Just like sewing :p.

Keep us posted and hope to see some pictures soon!

[anxiousgirl]

Hey you! Thanks for posting in my our journal thing-ama-jig.

Grats on taking the plunge, you'll be happy you did! And 17 i still not all bad, especially if you think about it, they will be out by the time you hit college.

I am glad to see the pain is gone. And don't worry about the buildups and chewing. You will get used to them, it just takes a while getting used to. I know it got very frustrating for me especially at uni, because we had no lunch brakes, and the option of a sammich was out. So i had to go with itty bitty pieces of cheese and ham and a bit of bread and try to chew them...:p Not fun.

But now, if the bread is not too hard, i can bite a bit, more like, bite and tear, but it works. So it really does get easier. Same with flossing. Just like sewing :p.

Keep us posted and hope to see some pictures soon!

No problem. I know it once i get them off it will be the best thing i ever did!
I think today is day 12 or 13.
All is well. I am completely used to my braces
Starting to chew now which is good. But im not feeling hungry which is very unlike me!
Since braces on I have lost 6kilos. and thats with no exercise

Only problem I am having at the moment is a very small section of my gums are aching very badly.. Its on the bottom left hand side behind the very last tooth. I think im flossing too hard there. It can't be wisdom teeth as I had the bottom ones out!
And my teeth have straightened out quite a bit i think. My parents notice a huge difference they say!

Okay for photos.
I will try and remind myself to do it tomorrow!!!

I do not have to go back to the ortho for another 8 weeks unless any problems arise.

This braces thing isnt so bad afterall

[anxiousgirl]

yes it has taken me a while!!!! but here are the horrible photos hahaha

these photos include the actual orthodontists photos using the cheek retractors so u can see how crooked my teeth are.

smile before braces:


teeth before braces:


upper arch:


lower arch:


left side of teeth/mouth (shows my overbite well):


right side of teeth/mouth:


AND NOWWW PHOTOS WITH BRACES!!
these photos were taken with braces at about week 2

teeth with braces:

[lilone]

Thanks for sharing your story and pics. Your story reminds me a little of me because I also developed a phobia of dentists and it hasn't been easy overcoming it enough to even consider braces. You've got something I haven't though....space! How did you manage to luck out and get that perfect little space behind your canine? I'm not an expert but to me, it looks like you've got a lot of good stuff to work with and your teeth aren't at all severe so I can imagine that things will speed along for you/ As for the adjustment period, I can't help you there as I haven't got my braces yet. Actually, if you read my story you will see that my treatment plan just changed pretty drastically last night so I've got a whole new set of things to consider before being braced. You, on the other hand, are on your way and it will be over before you know it. They will be fast movers, I'm sure, and it will have been so worth it!

[anxiousgirl]

Thanks for sharing your story and pics. Your story reminds me a little of me because I also developed a phobia of dentists and it hasn't been easy overcoming it enough to even consider braces. You've got something I haven't though....space! How did you manage to luck out and get that perfect little space behind your canine? I'm not an expert but to me, it looks like you've got a lot of good stuff to work with and your teeth aren't at all severe so I can imagine that things will speed along for you/ As for the adjustment period, I can't help you there as I haven't got my braces yet. Actually, if you read my story you will see that my treatment plan just changed pretty drastically last night so I've got a whole new set of things to consider before being braced. You, on the other hand, are on your way and it will be over before you know it. They will be fast movers, I'm sure, and it will have been so worth it!

My phobia was very bad. I HATED the dentist from having lots and lots of fillings from the age of about 7/8 im not 17. It come to the day where i just said "My smile is ugly! I want beautiful teeth" and that was enough to push the fear away a little bit. I still get a sick feeling when i see the orthodontist sometimes. That space behind my canine was where a tooth was pulled when i was about 12 i think. The tooth was sitting up quite high so the decision was made to get it extracted. Yes i was quite surprised that my teeth arent as bad as other cases as i did not need extractions, pallet expanders or spacers. After i post this, i am off to read your story! I am already noticing that my teeth are straightening! It will be great to take a photo after my next appointment which is in 7-8 weeks and compare it to see the movement. It is already well worth it. Dont be afraid any more lilone! (Mind you much easier said than done)

[anxiousgirl]

Day 22. Everythings great. EXCEPT; on the last upper right hand side bracket its pokingggg me! Now im making a bad habit of playing with the sharp wire with my tongue. Sometimes when i talk it gets caught on my cheek and rips a teeny bit of my cheek. What should i do? Ring him to go in and check it out.. or wait a month and a half? Its pretty annoying, but i dont want to bug him.

Also this is going to sound kindof gross but i want to know if there is anybody with the same problem. I brush my teeth really well at night, exactly how the ortho told me to. I then rinse my mouth with flouride mouth wash as per the directions and then use a tongue scraper. But when i wake up the next morning i have this clear sticky residue stuck on my teeth and brackets. What on earth am i doing wrong? Or is it something happening during my sleep? Its annoying and yuck and i want it gone!

Hope someone can answer those questions!

[anxiousgirl]

1 MONTH AND 3 DAYS WITH BRACES!
wow, that went super fast.
not having any pain or sensitivity.
and.. CAN NOW EAT CHOCOLATE!!! well.. small freddo frogs broken up. (not the plain ones, the gooey ones eg strawberry, peppermint, caramello koalas.)

my next appt isnt until the end of april i think, and im pretty sure thats not even going to be an adjustment.
im not really sure. on the appointment card it said it was a 5-10 minute appointment.
How long does it take to change the wire on damons? Hopefully he will totally file down the bite turbo thingys which are on my first molars.

so i think thats all from me for now... i really wish more people would come into my thread
hahaha. its all good. its like a diary for me even if only one or two people reply now and again.

oh and tomorrow is the first day my best friends will see me with braces. oh god.

[lilone]

Have no fear, lots of people check out the diary's and keep track of people's progress. They often only comment every once in a while though unless you have asked something specific and a reader can help you with it. You aren't talking to yourself though:)

[anxiousgirl]

Have no fear, lots of people check out the diary's and keep track of people's progress. They often only comment every once in a while though unless you have asked something specific and a reader can help you with it. You aren't talking to yourself though:)

Thanks for replying Its good to keep track of my own progress even.
Like i just looked at that first pic of my teeth with braces, and i can tell my teeth are straighter than that!
I dont want to take photos until my next adjustment though, so i can see the changes that happen between appointments.

[loradora]

Hi Anxious. I'm glad to hear that you're adjusting and you can have some sweets. As far as the bracket/wire poking your cheek, I'd use some wax for relief. Usually the discomfort comes right after an adjustment, then subsides until the next adjustment. I'm not sure about the clear sticky residue you mention having in the morning. I brush with flouride gel, rather than the rinse, but I don't know if it makes any difference. Hang in there and good luck. I get sprung this coming Thursday and I'm going to have some chocolate covered caramel chewies.

[poppy123]

Hi, just thought I'd drop a line to say I've just read your story and enjoyed reading it and seeing your pics. As lilone said people really will be reading your story and following your progress (me included!) so do keep updating! Your teeth are gonna look fab when they're done coz they look so nice already x

[anxiousgirl]

thanks for replying everyone!

im so jealous. i wish i could eat hard foods!
aw, my teeth arent nice! mine are quite yuck! well.. theyre okay now...


UPDATE TIME!!

I was having some pain in a tooth and needed a checkup at my normal dentist (not ortho) to see how i was cleaning my braces and stuff anyway. He couldnt find where the pain was coming from as xrays showed nothing and that tooth had no fillings. He didnt want to do anything to my braces so he recommended i make an appt with my ortho asap because i was in pain and my next appt wasnt until april 27th. The dentist said my teeth are so clean Which is great because I am really taking good care of them flossing, brushing and rinsing!


So, today I saw the ortho and he said the pain was probably just normal pressure from the braces moving my teeth. He also shaved down the buildups of glue, and i told him about the poking wire and he made a bend in that so it wont poke me and hook on my toothbrush like it does! He also said my teeth are exceptionally clean!! Im so happy about that! As soon as he shaved down the buildups the pain went away pretty much instantly! When i say shaved i mean filed? Drilled? Hahaha sorry i dont know so i say shaved.

PHOTO TIME! I know i said i wouldnt do it til my proper appointment on april 27th but i couldnt wait! Its amazing how much teeth move with braces in a month and 14 days.

On brace day (21/2/2011)


Taken today 1 month 2 weeks since brace day (4/4/2011)